Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released May 21, 2025, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). April Milk Production up 1.6 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during April totaled 18.6 billion pounds, up 1.6 percent from April 2024. March revised production, at 19.1 billion pounds, was up 1.1 percent from March 2024. The March revision represented an increase of 26 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,071 pounds for April, 12 pounds above April 2024. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.98 million head, 93,000 head more than April 2024, and 7,000 head more than March 2025. April Milk Production in the United States up 1.5 Percent Milk production in the United States during April totaled 19.4 billion pounds, up 1.5 percent from April 2024. Production per cow in the United States averaged 2,055 pounds for April, 11 pounds above April 2024. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.43 million head, 89,000 head more than April 2024, and 5,000 head more than March 2025. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2024-2025 [May not add due to rounding. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- Quarter : : : : : : : Change : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from : : : : : : : 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,338 9,402 6,098 6,038 56,943 56,772 -0.3 April-June ......: 9,330 6,145 57,333 July-September ..: 9,341 6,004 56,085 October-December : 9,360 5,930 55,507 : Annual ..........: 9,342 24,178 225,868 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production by Month - 24 Selected States: 2024-2025 [May not add due to rounding. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change Month : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from : : : : : : : 2024 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 8,871 8,950 2,062 2,056 18,293 18,401 0.6 February ......: 8,888 8,955 1,961 1,900 17,432 17,011 -2.4 March .........: 8,892 8,976 2,121 2,125 18,861 19,075 1.1 April .........: 8,890 8,983 2,059 2,071 18,305 18,601 1.6 May ...........: 8,886 2,118 18,821 June ..........: 8,878 2,012 17,861 July ..........: 8,886 2,045 18,175 August ........: 8,903 2,040 18,164 September .....: 8,911 1,969 17,544 October .......: 8,927 2,019 18,025 November ......: 8,919 1,936 17,270 December ......: 8,916 2,018 17,996 : Annual ........: 8,897 24,362 216,747 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2024-2025 [May not add due to rounding. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change Month : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from : : : : : : : 2024 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 9,324 9,389 2,047 2,042 19,083 19,173 0.5 February ......: 9,343 9,396 1,946 1,886 18,185 17,725 -2.5 March .........: 9,347 9,420 2,105 2,110 19,675 19,874 1.0 April .........: 9,336 9,425 2,044 2,055 19,082 19,370 1.5 May ...........: 9,331 2,103 19,624 June ..........: 9,323 1,998 18,627 July ..........: 9,326 2,029 18,918 August ........: 9,344 2,023 18,906 September .....: 9,353 1,952 18,261 October .......: 9,367 2,004 18,775 November ......: 9,359 1,922 17,988 December ......: 9,355 2,004 18,744 : Annual ........: 9,342 24,178 225,868 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: April 2024 and 2025 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from : : : : : : : 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .........: 193 191 2,180 2,185 421 417 -1.0 California ......: 1,709 1,710 2,065 2,035 3,529 3,480 -1.4 Colorado ........: 203 209 2,170 2,175 441 455 3.2 Florida .........: 102 95 1,875 1,935 191 184 -3.7 Georgia .........: 85 87 1,965 2,060 167 179 7.2 Idaho ...........: 669 697 2,110 2,110 1,412 1,471 4.2 Illinois ........: 79 77 1,880 1,890 149 146 -2.0 Indiana .........: 189 191 1,995 2,000 377 382 1.3 Iowa ............: 243 244 2,095 2,090 509 510 0.2 Kansas ..........: 173 189 1,980 2,020 343 382 11.4 : Michigan ........: 438 444 2,310 2,325 1,012 1,032 2.0 Minnesota .......: 446 442 1,945 1,980 867 875 0.9 New Mexico ......: 235 240 2,120 2,125 498 510 2.4 New York ........: 630 630 2,140 2,170 1,348 1,367 1.4 Ohio ............: 255 253 1,880 1,920 479 486 1.5 Oregon ..........: 118 116 1,765 1,760 208 204 -1.9 Pennsylvania ....: 465 464 1,805 1,810 839 840 0.1 South Dakota ....: 212 228 1,900 1,930 403 440 9.2 Texas ...........: 640 690 2,135 2,190 1,366 1,511 10.6 Utah ............: 91 91 1,935 1,940 176 177 0.6 : Vermont .........: 115 113 1,800 1,850 207 209 1.0 Virginia ........: 67 67 1,825 1,830 122 123 0.8 Washington ......: 261 250 2,040 2,030 532 508 -4.5 Wisconsin .......: 1,272 1,265 2,130 2,145 2,709 2,713 0.1 : 24-State Total ..: 8,890 8,983 2,059 2,071 18,305 18,601 1.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: March 2024 and 2025 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from : : : : : : : 2024 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 193 191 2,280 2,275 440 435 -1.1 California ....: 1,709 1,710 2,140 2,080 3,657 3,557 -2.7 Colorado ......: 203 209 2,235 2,235 454 467 2.9 Florida .......: 100 95 1,925 1,965 193 187 -3.1 Georgia .......: 85 85 2,025 2,125 172 181 5.2 Idaho .........: 668 697 2,145 2,145 1,433 1,495 4.3 Illinois ......: 79 77 1,950 1,950 154 150 -2.6 Indiana .......: 190 191 2,045 2,050 389 392 0.8 Iowa ..........: 242 244 2,150 2,135 520 521 0.2 Kansas ........: 174 187 2,095 2,100 365 393 7.7 : Michigan ......: 439 444 2,370 2,380 1,040 1,057 1.6 Minnesota .....: 446 442 2,005 2,040 894 902 0.9 New Mexico ....: 240 242 2,200 2,215 528 536 1.5 New York ......: 630 630 2,185 2,225 1,377 1,402 1.8 Ohio ..........: 255 252 1,930 1,970 492 496 0.8 Oregon ........: 116 116 1,820 1,810 211 210 -0.5 Pennsylvania ..: 465 464 1,860 1,865 865 865 - South Dakota ..: 212 226 1,950 1,985 413 449 8.7 Texas .........: 643 688 2,225 2,275 1,431 1,565 9.4 Utah ..........: 91 91 1,960 1,965 178 179 0.6 : Vermont .......: 115 113 1,860 1,905 214 215 0.5 Virginia ......: 67 66 1,860 1,875 125 124 -0.8 Washington ....: 260 251 2,080 2,070 541 520 -3.9 Wisconsin .....: 1,270 1,265 2,185 2,195 2,775 2,777 0.1 : 24-State Total : 8,892 8,976 2,121 2,125 18,861 19,075 1.1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: Primary data used to determine these estimates were obtained from a sample of producers. Individual States maintain a list of all known milk producers and information on the size of their herd. States use all known sources of producers to ensure that their lists are as complete as possible. Generally, all large producers and a sample of small producers are included in the survey. Questionnaires are mailed to producers near the end of the month to obtain data for the first day of the month. Additional reports are obtained by telephone, as needed, to supplement the mail response. Where feasible, States utilize state and federal administrative data to estimate milk production. This eliminates duplication of data gathering by different government agencies such as Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Dairy Market News. Indications of milk cow inventory are also obtained in the January Cattle Survey. Estimation Procedures: Regional Field Offices prepare these estimates by using a combination of survey indications, historic trends, and any available administrative data. Individual State estimates are reviewed by the Agricultural Statistics Board for reasonableness. Revision Policy: Milk production, milk per cow, and number of milk cows are subject to revision the following month after initial publication for monthly States or the following quarter for the quarterly States. Normally, administrative data from Federal Market Orders, State Departments of Agriculture, or other sources are the main basis for revisions. However, administrative data for all States may not be available in time for these revisions. Estimates are again subject to revisions in February each year based on additional administrative data. In the event that additional changes are necessary, a third revision is possible in February the following year. Estimates are again reviewed after data from the five-year Census of Agriculture are available. No revisions are made after that date. Reliability: Since all operations with dairy animals are not included in the sample, survey estimates are subject to sampling variability. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions, duplications, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. The effects of these errors cannot be measured directly. They are minimized through rigid quality controls in the data collection process and through a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. To assist users in evaluating the reliability of the estimates in this report, the "Root Mean Square Error" is shown for selected items in the table below. The "Root Mean Square Error" is a statistical measure based on past performance and is computed using the differences between first and final estimates. The "Root Mean Square Error" for the 24 State milk production estimates over the past 24 months is 0.3 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 18.6 billion pounds by more than 0.3 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.6 percent. Reliability of Monthly Milk Production Estimates [Based on data for the past 24 months] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Root mean : 90 percent : Difference between first and latest estimate : square error : confidence : : : : : : : level :------------------------------------------------------------- Item : : : : : : Months : : : : : :------------------------------- : : : Average :Smallest : Largest : Below latest : Above latest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : percent percent -------- 1,000 -------- ----- number ----- : : Milk production ..............: 0.3 0.6 50 0 139 12 11 : All Milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 10 2 25 10 14 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@usda.gov. Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ................. (202) 692-0069 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter .............. (202) 690-8632 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed, Dairy Products .. (202) 720-3040 Kim DaPra - Milk Production and Milk Cows............. (202) 720-3278 Ralph Mondesir - Hogs and Pigs ....................... (202) 720-3106 Suzanne Richards - Sheep and Goats ................... (202) 720-4448 Access to NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov. Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" or "State" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. 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